Lost, then Found, Thanks to PetLynx

Asha is a 9 year old, Shih Tzu but she looks and acts like a puppy. She has come to work with my husband and me since we opened our office in 2005. Our patients have come to expect seeing her as soon as they walk through the door, and as you might expect, Asha looks forward to seeing them, too

The day Asha went missing from our office was, by far, one of the worst moments of my life. We have had Asha since she was a puppy and I panicked at the thought of never seeing her again. Of course, worst case scenarios immediately ran through my head!

Three cheers for PetLynx!

Our goal at PetLynx is to provide pet families with the best possible chance for recovering lost pets by automating real-time searches of registered admissions at emergency hospitals, shelters, clinics, and pounds, and by providing important recovery tools the whole community can access with a simple web browser.

Whether it is PetLynx Automatch technology that helps bring a lost pet home or not ... we love a good HomeSafe story! Here are a few recent short and sweet accolades for PetLynx:

Thanks for the PetLynx Team, I found my cat Taddy. What a great use of the computer! He is so happy to be at home, his behavior has changed, he even sleeps with me and the dog now.

     Harry

Thanks to PetLynx I have found my pet. She was accidentally locked in my neighbor's garage.

     Sandra

Maggie has been found. Thank you, PetLynx, for this service.
     Cecil

I have Elli back ... thanks to the PetLynx website ... though it was a poster on a mailbox that ultimately resulted in her return. :) Please update my 'lost' pet to 'found!

    Thanks
    Gord

Do YOU have a HomeSafe story to share? Email us today!

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

If Only Pets Could Talk!

Your dog (or cat) may have a wide repertoire of tricks, but no matter how smart you think she is, she will never be able to tell a stranger your address and phone number! Ensuring our companion animals have traceable pet identification (I.D.) is one way that we can guarantee that they can "speak" for themselves should they become lost.

However, the most important thing to remember about any kind of pet I.D. is that it is completely useless if you fail to update your personal information when you move or change phone numbers.

Whenever you change any of your contact information, be sure to alert all organizations and agencies with your new details. Ensure your dog or cat has a "ticket home" by registering with PetLynx, too! Even in the absence of any form of traceable identification. the PetLynx Automatch system can help you recover your lost pet based on a physical description alone!

Pet Family Would Have Been "Lost" Without PetLynx

Here is an example of how the PetLynx AutoMatch system works 24/7 to help lost pets get HomeSafe fast:

I would like to thank PetLynx for the valuable service provided to me when I lost my Golden Retriever. I posted the details online with PetLynx and called the city pound and the humane society to file a lost report as soon as we discovered that our dog was lost.

My dog was found by a bylaw officer and City Animal Services must have notified PetLynx because the very next morning I received an email from your organization indicating that you had identified a possible match.
 

So, many thanks to all who have a hand in helping distraught owners and animals reunite. We would have been lost without you.

Sincerely,
Chris M.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

Accolades for PetLynx

I found my cat after three months looking for her -- thanks to PetLynx. I checked the website repeatedly and was thrilled to see her posting there. What an awesome web site!

     A Grateful Cat Owner

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, our cat Sammy is back home!
     Bonnie M.

Thank you for providing this service. A PetLynx AutoMatch was dispatched on our computer this morning and it indeed was a match. Thanks to PetLynx and the animal shelter here in Calgary, my dog is at home safe and sound where he belongs.

      Tony M.

Thank you for your help PetLynx! The cat I had found is now back with its owners. The owner is a teenage girl and the cat had been missing for two weeks. She is so happy to be reunited with her life long friend! PetLynx is a good web site.
     Evelyn K.

Thanks to PetLynx, I was able to find my dog in less than two days. You are AWESOME and I can't thank you enough!

     Christine M.

It has been a very good morning! My cat Buttons came home after being missing for four days. I was so worried about him because he is old and not very well. On Tuesday I opened the door to let the dog in and in walked Buttons, too... acting as if he was very angry with me! With a little pampering he was right back in my arms and happily purring away.

     Linda C.

I just wanted to let you know that I was successfully matched with my lost dog today. I go to the pound to pick her up tomorrow. Thank you for this service... my experience is proof that it works.

     D.

Posted by Terri Perrin, Online Communications Editor

AutoMatch Methodology Explained

After placing a lost cat report on PetLynx, one confused cat owner emailed to ask why she was getting potential 'matches' for cats that were tabby or black and white... when the photo of her cat clearly showed it was a Siamese.

Here is why:
Potential matches that may appear to be 'mistakes' are provided because the PetLynx AutoMatch™ system takes into account the fact that not all members of the public describe a lost/found animal the same way.

We don't want to miss a chance at getting a lost pet HomeSafe™ simply because the 'finder' can't tell a tabby from a Siamese! So, all potential matches are provided, taking into account a variety of factors, such as sex, coat length, etc.

AutoMatch™ is a service exclusive to the PetLynx system that can search for matches for a pet using either an identifier such as a tattoo, microchip or PetLynx visual tag, and/or based on only a physical description of the animal using a PetLynx technology called DataSketch™. The AutoMatch™ system then serves up all potential matches and notifies both parties involved. The parties can then retrieve the matches and physically follow up to see if it is the correct pet.

AutoMatch™ is unique because:

1. The system makes matches based on identifiers such as microchip and tattoos. Our system is not proprietary to any microchip manufacturer, so all microchip types are accepted.
2. AutoMatch can also make matches on a pet based on only a physical description, using our unique DataSketch™ technology.
3. Unlike other systems, AutoMatch™ is an automatic system so there is no need to manually search through reports.
4. AutoMatch™ sends out possible matches to other animals that are similar to your description -- no other pet lost and found search engine does this!

The pet family is ultimately responsible for managing their information, however, the system allows for the finder to engage themselves as well if they choose to.

Accolades from Pet Families

We've got mail!

We love to get the great news that PetLynx has played a role in helping lost pets get HomeSafe! Here are a few excerpts from emails we have received from grateful pet families:

"I am absolutely elated to tell you that Semico has been found! We received a call from Canadian Tire to inform us that he was in their parking lot. It is so nice to have him at home again. We appreciate the help provided to us by PetLynx. Thank you again!"
Sincerely, Debbie KB.

"Thank you very much for your help in finding Blaze. People who had seen our posters spotted him and called us. THANK YOU for your help."

Natalie W.

"I put a lost ad for Max on Kijiji and had a response that directed me to the Humane Society. Unfortunately, our local Humane Society does not place impounded animals on their website so, when I registered him with PetLynx, an identical match came up confirming he was at the shelter. The poor guy spent Christmas in a kennel at the shelter, but he was warm and safe and he gained more Christmas weight than I did! Thank you so very much for your service."

Bonnie H.

Dog-napping has a Happy Ending Thanks to PetLynx

If Chloe, could talk, she would have quite a story to tell!

According to her Calgary guardians, the American Eskimo X Sheltie, was dog-napped when she was left tied up outside a medical office. A witness saw two women pick up the tethered dog, unclip her leash and walk away.

"I was pretty naive," said Alessandro. "I never thought someone would just steal someone else's dog. I had been warned about it, but I just didn't think it would happen to us!"

Alessandro said that during the five days Chloe was missing, the guilt and stress played heavily on him. He tried to funnel all the negativity into positive actions by putting up posters, calling local radio and TV stations and the newspaper. He put announcements on the Internet, including PetLynx, and contacted the police.

It was the posting on Petlynx that helped get Chloe home!

The family received a call from a man who had found a dog in Airdrie, a city a few kilometers north of Calgary. He had posted the dog's information Petlynx which resulted in an Automatch!

"Our life was indescribably painful during the five days Chloe was gone ," concluded Alessandro. "We are all so thankful to have her back and feel blessed to be given this second chance. I don't think this story would have such a happy ending if it wasn't for Petlynx. Thank you!"

P.S. Alessandro says that he won't be tying up his dog and leaving her unattended in a public place ever again!

Area Service Providers:
Calgary Humane Society, City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services

Dog gone it! What can I do?

Found a stray dog? (Or cat.)
Use common sense to determine if he or she is genuinely homeless and in need of rescue, or is a neighborhood pet... out for an unauthorized walk in the park!

Is the dog well cared for?
If the animal appears healthy, well-groomed and approachable - chances are he or she is merely lost and not abandoned. If it is friendly, you can take him or her in and help find the guardian.

If the animal is thin, with a matted and dirty coat or it appears injured -- it has very likely been lost for a long time or abandoned. (It is very unusual for a dog to become feral.) If the pet is approachable, try to catch it and take it to an animal shelter or vet clinic for medical treatment.

Check for pet identification
A collar and tags are obvious forms of pet ID. But many pets also have tattoos and/or microchips. You can take the pet to a vet clinic and they will help you check for tattoos or microchips.

Whether the dog has any identification or not, you can still register it with PetLynx!

PetLynx has a special program called AutoMatch
Normal.dotm 0 0 1 1 RTPerrin Consulting Services 1 1 1 12.0 that considers physical characteristics. It searches for lost and found matches even in the absence of any pet identification. 

Know Your Neighbours 
Remember that most animals that are lost, belong in the neighbourhood where they are wandering. Their guardians are probably frantically looking for them. Taking the animal to your local animal shelter is an option, but moving the animal from the neighbourhood reduces the chances that the pet will be reunited with its guardian. At least for a couple of days -- if you are able -- try to find the guardian yourself.

Feral? Stray? Or new to the neighborhood?

How to determine if a wandering cat needs your help

In rural and suburban areas many people, unfortunately, allow their animals to roam free - especially cats.

Cats tend to wander a fair distance from their home, so do not be quick to assume a 'stray' cat is lost or abandoned. Most cats are also nonchalant when roaming free, whereas dogs tend to be focused on their guardian and are more distressed when lost.

Observe if the cat appears well cared for or is dirty, thin, hurt, ill or generally frightened. If the cat appears uncared for and thin, you need to intervene right away. For sick or injured cats, call your local humane society or animal control right away.

Be aware that a cat which has been on its own for a period of time or one that is hurt may not be approachable and could scratch or bite. Approach cautiously and wear gloves if you attempt to handle a lost cat.

If the cat looks healthy, you may want to take a 'wait and see' approach to determine if it is still around over a couple of days. During that time, ask some of your neighbours if they know who may own the cat.

If you suspect the cat is genuinely lost, post its description on PetLynx. (But be sure to go back into PetLynx and remove the 'found' report if the cat disappears or you discover it lives just a few doors away.)

PetLynx has a state-of-the-art program called AutoMatchTM, that matches lost and found pets based on a physical description. It works, even if you do not know the age or sex of an animal and if there is no visible pet identification.

Accolades for PetLynx AutoMatch™

Holly C and her family were concerned when a stray dog showed up their Edmonton-area acreage one day. Fearing that the stray dog might be chased onto the range road by the family's owned dogs and be hit by passing cars or, alternately, become coyote bait, they called the County Animal Control.

"After we had safely loaded 'Jack' into the Animal Control Van, I went online and checked [my lost dog listing on] Pet Lynx," said Holly. "Lo and behold, on my first look at my potential matches, there was a perfect picture of this dog! I phoned the owner and within an hour, Jack was HomeSafe™. My heart felt soooo good. I can not say enough what a great site Pet Lynx has been. Well done!!! I am off to the vets today and will be sure to pass on the website so that other lost souls can be as easily be returned to their families as Jack was!"

Matches like this happen hundreds of times a day, when the PetLynx AutoMatch™ search engine automatically finds matches for the lost and found pets admitted to shelters, clinics, emergency hospitals, pounds, the general public and pet families.

PetLynx is the only provider of an Automated Recovery System like this in the world. PetLynx provides lifetime protection for pets... and peace of mind for pet families for just pennies a day.

Thank YOU for thanking us!

One most rewarding aspects of working with PetLynxTM is knowing that our efforts are making a positive impact in the community as a whole and in the lives of individuals and families and their companion animals!

In cyberspace, PetLynx and the AutoMatchTM program are a powerful computer system that help get lost pets HomeSafeTM... but behind the scenes, PetLynx is powered by people who care passionately about companion animals.

We love it when you share your 'Lost and Found' success stories with us. Whether PetLynx played a role in the pet recovery or not, we view every happy homecoming as a triumph.

Here are a couple of our most recent accolades:

Our valued dog disappeared the day my daughter moved into Edmonton. Thanks to a wonderful person who noticed the shy dog hanging around their yard, our dog was taken into their home and cared for. Our vet was notified and contacted us. Thanks for your service. It kept our hopes alive. After four days my daughter is reunited with her dog.
Ray P.

I would like to thank this network as it has helped find our missing cat. It was great to be reunited with 'Boots'. So once again a BIG THANK YOU.

Karen W.

Keep those cyber cards and letters coming!

Safe and Found in Regina

When Tyler saw a puppy narrowly miss being hit by a car, he pulled over, scooped it up and took it home.

"The puppy had a collar, but no tattoo or tag," explained Tyler. "He smelled like he'd just been bathed, so we knew he was being missed by someone."

Tyler and his family then drove around the neighborhood asking if anyone had lost a pup. They posted ads on UsedRegina.com and Kijiji. The next day they called the Regina Humane Society. They were directed to their website, to post a found report on PetLynx.

"I had never heard of PetLynx before," said Tyler, "but it looked like a great idea so we posted the information and my wife left to take the dog to the humane society. As soon as she walked out the door, I checked Petlynx again and, there was a match!"

Tyler immediately called the owner... then he called his wife to tell her to turn around and come home! The puppy's grateful owner had been 'matched' on PetLynx.

"I liked the ease of using PetLynx," said Tyler. "AutoMatch ™ is a WICKED idea! Thank you again for hosting such a great site!"

Tyler Regina, Saskatchewan

Local Service Provider: Regina Humane Society

Tabby or Not Tabby?

Confusion over cat colours and coat patterns

Do you know what colour your cat is? You may think you do.... but if it's a tabby, is it a speckled, mackerel or striped tabby?

What if you find a lost cat. Are you sure you would know how to describe it?

There is a wide array of coat patterns in cats and you'd be surprised at how many cat owners don't know a tabby from a tortoiseshell! Sadly, this confusion over coat patterns and colours may lead to some lost cats never being returned to their rightful owners!

Thankfully, Petlynx's DataSketch™ takes the guess work out of identifying lost and found pets. It is especially helpful in describing cats, where there is often much confusion over colours and coat patterns.

Since two people will likely not describe an animal the same way DataSketch™ technology reduces the number of possible descriptors and colors for a pet to a defined number. By reducing the descriptors, we have increased the possibility that people will describe the animal in a similar fashion. An animal's DataSketch™ is compared to other sketches and 'scored' during the AutoMatch™ process. Those matches with the highest scores are then presented to both parties as the most likely matches.

Although DataSketch™ is a real help, here are some things you should know about cats:

Your Average House Cat
Cats of unknown parentage are referred to ‘domestic short-, medium- or long-hairs.’ This is an all-encompassing term used to describe your average house cat, not a purebred designation. However, you should know that the American Shorthair, American Wirehair, British Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, and Oriental Short- and Longhairs are all distinct and well-established breeds.

A Purebred Tabby? There's No Such thing!
Some people mistakenly refer to their cats as a purebred tabbies. But that’s like saying you have a purebred black dog! Tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed, and therefore tabbies can be found in almost all breeds of cats. Even Siamese cats can have tabby markings. These cats are exceptionally beautiful and are described as having lynx- or tabby-points rather than the usual solid-colored markings on the legs, tail, ears and muzzle.

Tortoiseshells and Torbis
‘Torti’ or ‘Tortoiseshell’ is a color, not a breed. These cats have black coats with patches of cream and red. A calico is a torti with white. A tortoiseshell with tabby patches is called a ‘torbi.’ These cats are almost always female. Male tortis or calicos are very rare and are usually born sterile.

Cat Organizations:
The Canadian Cat Association, The Cat Fanciers Association of Canada, The International Cat Association, The American Cat Fanciers Association: